Transcript Slide 1

Understanding Usage
How is language used differently in different
situations?
Standard and nonstandard English
Words confused or misused
Words with similar sounds
Words with related meanings
Formal and informal English
Double negatives
Review A
Review B
How is language used differently in
different situations?
Most of us speak and write several languages—
even if we only know English.
You probably wouldn’t talk
to your coach the same
way you talk to a friend.
Your school essays probably
don’t look anything like your
text messages.
How is language used differently in
different situations?
We choose a “language” to suit our audience and
purpose.
Audience—the person
or people to whom you
are speaking or writing
Purpose—your reason for
writing or speaking
[End of Section]
Standard and nonstandard English
American English is rich
and varied, with many
distinct dialects. No
dialect is better or more
correct than another.
Each ethnic dialect or regional dialect has its own
rules and unique features of grammar, vocabulary,
and pronunciation.
Standard and nonstandard English
The kind of English you are expected to use in
school and work situations is called standard
English.
We learn standard English so that we can
communicate with and understand people from
different regions and cultures.
Standard and nonstandard English
Standard English is
• grammatically correct
• appropriate in both formal
and informal situations
• more widely used than any other
variety of American English
• more accepted than any
other variety
Standard and nonstandard English
Nonstandard English is suitable in casual
speaking situations. It can also be used when you
are writing dialogue.
Nonstandard does not mean
“wrong.” It means not
appropriate in situations
where standard English is
expected.
[End of Section]
Words confused or misused
Words with similar sounds
In English, many words sound alike but are spelled
differently and have different meanings.
It’s/its
It’s is a contraction of it is or it has.
It’s time to leave.
It’s been a nice day.
it’s = it is
it’s = it has
Its is a possessive form that means “belonging
to it.”
The city must increase its water supply.
Words confused or misused
Words with similar sounds
It’s/its
it is
I might buy this car. It’s in good
condition, and its engine is reliable.
belonging
to it
Words confused or misused
Words with similar sounds
They’re/there/their
They’re is a contraction of they are.
They’re playing jazz music.
There is an adverb that means “at that place.”
There is also used to begin a sentence.
Did you get there on time?
There will be a crowd at the mall.
“at that place”
begins sentence
Words confused or misused
Words with similar sounds
They’re/there/their
Their is the possessive form of they, meaning
“belonging to them.”
Did they make their own
costumes?
Words confused or misused
Words with similar sounds
They’re/there/their
at that
place
they are
Right there is the shop where they’re
having their bikes repaired.
belonging
to them
Words confused or misused
Words with similar sounds
You’re/your
You’re is a contraction of you are.
You’re not angry, are you?
Your is the possessive form of you, meaning
“belonging to you.”
Does your brother go to college?
Words confused or misused
Words with similar sounds
You’re/your
you are
When you’re done cooking,
please clean up your mess.
belongin
g to you
Words confused or misused
Words with similar sounds
Who’s/whose
Who’s is a contraction of who is or who has.
Who’s the new math teacher?
Who’s been tutoring you?
who’s = who is
who’s = who has
Whose is the possessive form of who, meaning
“belonging to whom.”
Whose bracelet is this?
Words confused or misused
Words with similar sounds
Who’s/whose
who is
belonging
to whom
Who’s the player whose hand was injured?
Words confused or misused
Words with similar sounds
Accept/except
Accept is a verb that means “to receive.”
Did you accept the gift?
Except is usually a preposition that means
“excluding.” Less often, it is a verb that means
“to leave out.”
Everyone except Kyle stayed.
Mrs. Liu will not except
anyone from the deadline.
preposition
verb
Words confused or misused
Words with similar sounds
Could of/ought to of/should of
Of is a preposition. Do not use of in place of have
after verbs such as could, should, would, might,
must, and ought [to].
You should have
come
over.
of come
over.
We could have
played
darts.
of played
darts.
You ought to have
of asked
asked
meme
earlier.
earlier.
Words confused or misused
Words with similar sounds
On Your Own
Some of the following sentences contain errors in the use
of standard English. Find and correct each error. If a
sentence is already correct, label it C.
1. Its a great day for flying a kite.
2. Did they say where they’re going for vacation?
3. I should of spent more time practicing free throws.
4. The dog is chewing its bone.
5. Whose glasses are lying on you’re desk?
6. All the actors knew there parts except Jeff.
[End of Section]
Words confused or misused
Words with related meanings
Some pairs of words are confused because their
meanings are so close to each other.
Bring/take
Bring means “to come
carrying something.”
Please bring me the broom.
Take means “to go
carrying something.”
Now take it back to the closet.
Words confused or misused
Words with related meanings
Fewer/less
Fewer is used with plural nouns.
Jared worked fewer hours
this week than last week.
Less is used with singular nouns.
Jared worked less time
this week than last week.
Fewer tells “how many.” Less tells
“how much.”
Words confused or misused
Words with related meanings
Good/well
Good is always an adjective. Do not use good
to modify a verb. Use the adverb well.
Adj.
Ernesto makes good salads.
Noun
Adverb
He and his sister both cook well.
Verb
Words confused or misused
Words with related meanings
Good/well
Well is usually an adverb that means
“capably,” but it is also used as an adjective to
mean “healthy.”
Adverb
Bret played well.
Verb
adverb meaning
“capably”
Adj.
Bret feels well today.
Noun
adjective meaning
“healthy”
Words confused or misused
Words with related meanings
On Your Own
Some of the following sentences contain errors in the
use of standard English. Find and correct each error.
If a sentence is already correct, label it C.
1. Matt always feels good when he helps someone.
2. This tree has less apples than that one.
3. When you go to the game, please bring your
sister with you.
4. The debate team performed good at the
tournament.
[End of Section]
Formal and informal English
The term formal English is used for language
that is appropriate in serious speaking and writing
situations.
Informal English
indicates standard
usage that is common
in conversations and
everyday writing, such
as personal letters.
Please
relax.
Chill out,
would ya?
Oh, that
is
That’s
way
terrific!
cool!
Formal and informal English
Speeches at ceremonies
Formal English
expected
Serious papers, reports
Tests and exams
Business letters and
interviews
Everyday conversations
Personal letters, e-mails
Journal entries
Some newspaper and
magazine writing
Informal
English okay
Formal and informal English
Formal English
Informal English
Sentence structure:
Sentence structure:
• longer
• shorter
• more complex
• simpler
Word choice:
Word choice:
• precise
• simple
• sometimes technical
or scientific
• colloquialisms, slang,
contractions
Tone:
Tone:
• serious, dignified
• conversational
Formal and informal English
Many words and phrases that
are fine in informal situations
should be avoided in formal
situations.
How come
In formal situations, use why.
Informal
Formal
How come you overslept?
Why did you oversleep?
Formal and informal English
Kind of/sort of
In formal situations, use rather or somewhat.
Informal
Formal
You seem kind of nervous.
You seem somewhat nervous.
Formal and informal English
Try and
In formal situations, use try to.
Do not try and shovel all that
snow at once.
Do not try to shovel all that
snow at once.
Formal and informal English
On Your Own
Revise each sentence, changing the informal usage to
formal, standard usage. If a sentence is correct, label
it C.
1. It has been sort of humid all week.
2. She tried to eat the whole cookie in one bite.
3. How come Leila had to buy all the decorations for
the party?
4. Caleb has decided to try and go to the same
college as his sister.
[End of Section]
Double negatives
In a double negative, two or more negative
words are used when only one is needed.
Negative #1
Incorrect
I haven’t never
seensuch
such aa
never seen
big pumpkin.
Negative #2
Double negatives often occur when
not is part of a contraction.
Double negatives
To fix a double negative, change either of the
negative words.
Negative
Incorrect
Correct
Negative
Marc didn’t buy nothing at the mall.
Marc didn’t buy anything at the mall.
OR
Marc bought nothing at the mall.
Double negatives
To fix a double negative containing barely, hardly,
or scarcely, delete not or n’t.
Negative
Negative
Incorrect
The puppy couldn’t hardly walk.
Correct
could hardly
walk.
The puppy couldn’t
hardly
walk.
Double negatives
On Your Own
Correct the double negative in each sentence.
1. Tom didn’t have no time to buy the books.
2. Didn’t none of you see the dog?
3. The light was so dim we couldn’t barely see.
4. She hadn’t never tasted papaya before.
[End of Section]
Review A
For each sentence, choose the correct word in parentheses,
according to formal, standard usage.
1. Will you (bring, take) this book to Jonah when you go to
his house?
2. You must learn to (accept, except) criticism graciously.
3. The waves look (kind of, rather) high this morning.
4. (Who’s, Whose) car is parked out front?
5. The horse behaves (good, well) when we brush (its, it’s)
mane.
6. Judy is going to (try and, try to) play tennis today.
[End of Section]
Review B
Revise each sentence to make it correct according to formal,
standard usage.
1. Did Jim ever explain how come he was so late?
2. It didn’t hardly rain at all last night.
3. You will make less mistakes if you are more careful.
4. There Great Dane is taller than you’re Irish Wolfhound.
5. Randy doesn’t take no shortcuts when he writes a paper.
6. Kevin should of asked more politely.
[End of Section]
The End